Top 10 Things Hamilton Got Factually Right and Wrong

Summary

The video script from WatchMojo explores the historical accuracy of the musical 'Hamilton,' highlighting the top 10 factual and fictional elements. It delves into Hamilton's alleged womanizing, his contentious relationship with John Adams, and the dueling incident with George Eaker that led to the death of Hamilton's son. The script also addresses the rivalry between Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, Eliza's efforts to preserve her husband's legacy, and the inaccuracies regarding Burr's constant presence in Hamilton's life and Angelica's supposed infatuation with him. It concludes with the climactic duel and the enduring debate over whether Hamilton intentionally missed his shot.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hamilton was not known as a notorious womanizer despite the musical's portrayal; the story of Martha Washington naming her tomcat after him is more fiction than fact.
• 😡 Hamilton was not fired by John Adams; he resigned from his position as Secretary of the Treasury before Adams became president.
• 😢 The musical's depiction of Philip Hamilton's duel is inaccurate; in reality, he threw away his shot, and his opponent didn't immediately fire back.
• 🤔 The rivalry between Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson was more about politics than personal animosity, differing from the musical's portrayal.
• 📚 Eliza Hamilton did work to preserve her husband's legacy, living another 50 years after his death and collecting his writings.
• 🔪 Aaron Burr's rivalry with Hamilton was not as constant or built up as the musical suggests; their interactions were exaggerated for dramatic effect.
• 💔 Hamilton's affair with Maria Reynolds and the subsequent scandal were real, but his downfall was more due to his criticisms towards John Adams.
• ❤️ The musical's depiction of Angelica Schuyler Church's infatuation with Hamilton is fictional; they shared a close bond but not a romantic one.
• 🤝 Hamilton was against slavery and helped end the international slave trade, although he sometimes found himself caught in the middle of a racist system.
• 🎭 The musical 'Hamilton' takes creative liberties with historical events for dramatic effect, such as the timing and details of the climactic duel.
• 🏆 The top takeaway is that Hamilton's decision to 'throw away his shot' in the duel with Burr is widely believed to be true, despite some inaccuracies in the musical's depiction.

Q & A

What is the claim made about Alexander Hamilton's reputation in the song 'A Winter's Ball'?

In the song 'A Winter's Ball', Aaron Burr paints Alexander Hamilton as a notorious womanizer, and it is humorously suggested that Martha Washington named her feral tomcat after him. However, this is more fiction than fact, with little evidence to support that Hamilton was a regular philanderer.

Did John Adams really fire Alexander Hamilton from his position as Secretary of the Treasury?

No, John Adams did not fire Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton actually resigned from his position as Secretary of the Treasury on December 1, 1794, two years before Adams was elected president in 1796.

What historical event is depicted in the musical as the reason for Philip Hamilton's duel with George Eaker?

The musical implies that Philip Hamilton's duel with George Eaker occurred before Adams lost the presidency. In reality, the duel took place one year later, and Philip intentionally threw away his shot after counting 10 paces, which differs from the musical's depiction.

How accurate is the portrayal of Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson's rivalry in the musical?

While Hamilton and Jefferson were indeed political rivals, with Hamilton being a Federalist and Jefferson a Democratic-Republican, the musical may exaggerate the extent of their personal animosity and the number of direct confrontations they had.

What was the real reason behind Hamilton's endorsement of Jefferson during the 1800 presidential election?

Hamilton endorsed Jefferson during the 1800 presidential election because he believed Aaron Burr was the more dangerous candidate, not because of their shared views or a close relationship.

How did Eliza Hamilton contribute to preserving her husband's legacy after his death?

After Alexander Hamilton's death, Eliza lived another 50 years, during which she interviewed soldiers who fought alongside her husband and collected his writings. She also raised money for the construction of the Washington Monument and co-founded New York's first private orphanage.

What is the historical inaccuracy regarding Aaron Burr's role in Hamilton's life as portrayed in the musical?

The musical suggests a more intense rivalry and numerous encounters between Burr and Hamilton than what history records. For example, the musical invents instances where they crossed paths that did not actually happen.

What is the historical context of the Reynolds Pamphlet mentioned in the script?

The Reynolds Pamphlet was a confession written by Hamilton admitting to an affair with Maria Reynolds, which became a significant political scandal. It was published to counter blackmail threats and protect his legacy.

Is there any historical evidence to support the claim that Angelica Schuyler Church was infatuated with Alexander Hamilton?

No, there is no historical evidence to confirm that Angelica Schuyler Church harbored a secret love for Alexander Hamilton. Their relationship was close but not romantic, and Angelica was already married when she met Hamilton.

How did Hamilton's stance on slavery differ from other founding fathers?

Hamilton was one of the few founding fathers who did not directly own slaves. He was known for being an abolitionist and helped end the international slave trade, although he sometimes found himself navigating the complexities of a racist system.

What are some of the creative liberties taken by the musical 'Hamilton' regarding the climactic duel between Hamilton and Burr?

The musical takes creative liberties with the timing and context of the duel, as it did not occur immediately after Burr lost his shot at the presidency. Additionally, the musical does not emphasize that Burr became Jefferson's vice president and later ran for governor of New York.

What is the historical consensus on whether Hamilton intentionally missed Burr during their duel?

It is widely believed that Hamilton intentionally missed Burr during their duel, possibly due to a pledge not to shoot. Hamilton is said to have hit a tree branch over his head, while Burr, unaware of Hamilton's pledge, fired back and fatally wounded him.